Philadelphia DHS accused of not properly screening foster parents

PHILADELPHIA -- Two sisters who allegedly were sexually molested by their foster father filed suit against the agencies and individuals who placed them into the foster home, and later recommended the girls be adopted by the foster parents.

The unidentified plaintiffs filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against the Jewish Family and Children Services of Greater Philadelphia, the City of Philadelphia, the Department of Human Services, and others, alleging they failed to properly monitor the plaintiffs' safety and well being, and were otherwise grossly negligent in not only placing the sisters in the foster home, but by recommending adoption by the parents.

The girls allege that they were continually sexually molested and abused by their foster father, beginning at the ages of 11 and 5 years old, and they were threatened with being locked in a dog cage if they told authorities. The alleged mistreatment was finally discovered by a teacher after the eldest sister reported that an abused girl in a homework assignment was in fact her.

The plaintiffs allege that the defendants failed to ensure their safety while they were in foster care, failed to consult privately with them about their lives in the foster home, failed to properly supervise the foster parents and failed to properly screen the foster parents.